If you are among those Dodger fans who have little or no interest whatsoever in the franchise’s minor league system you’ve probably never heard the names Edwin Rios or Joey Curletta before. But if you are among those who even remotely follow the Dodgers farm teams, you’ve undoubtedly heard these two names before – especially recently.

“They’re the new ‘Bash Brothers,'” said Steve Saenz, the official photographer for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes who sees Rios and Curletta almost daily. “These guys rake. They’re beasts.”

Saenz’s assessment of the pair is, of course, in reference to former Oakland A’s sluggers Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco, who had been given that nickname because of their propensity for hitting long distance and frequent home runs, and who went on to hit a combined 1,045 home runs during their major league careers. It is also a fair assessment of Rios and Curletta, who are a month apart in age at 22.

At 6′-4″ and 6′-3″ respectively, Joey Curletta and Edwin Rios tower over most of their teammates.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Since June 27 Rios has hit 13 home runs, including two home runs in a game four times. And though Curletta only hit seven home runs during that time frame, he was named the California League’s Player of the Week this past Monday. On the season Rios is tied with right fielder Johan Mieses for the team lead with 16 home runs and Curletta right behind them with 13.

Curletta was selected by the Dodgers in the sixth round of the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix, Arizona as a right-handed throwing and hitting outfielder. The 6′-4″ – 245-pound Phoenix native is in his second full season with the Dodgers Advanced Single-A affiliate Quakes and even had a brief cup of coffee with the Double-A Tulsa Drillers last season. On the season with the Quakes Curletta has a slash-line of .267 / .338 / .496 for an impressive .834 OPS.

Curletta was named as the Cal League’s Player of the Week this past Monday.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Rios, also a Dodgers sixth-rounder but in 2015 out of Florida International University in Miami, spent the 2015 season between the Arizona Rookie League Dodgers and the Ogden Raptors of the short-season Pioneer Rookie League while recovering from labrum surgery on his right shoulder. The right-handed throwing – left-handed hitting, 6′-3″ – 220-pound Caguas, Puerto Rico native – who was drafted as a first baseman but also plays third base – began the 2016 season with the Low Single-A Great Lakes Loons but quickly proved that he needed to play at a higher level after slugging six home runs in 33 games with the Loons. Since joining the Quakes on June 4, Rios is hitting .367 with a .394 on-base percentage and .712 slugging percentage for an insane 1.105 OPS.

“Last year with the whole surgery thing and not really having an off-season I wasn’t able to get my body in the shape that I wanted,” said Rios, when asked what the biggest difference from last year to this year has been. “And then going into this season it’s been huge for me. I feel great at the plate. My hands, I feel like they’re quicker from last year because I’ve lost so much weight and my body just feels really good.”

Rios has hit two home runs in a game four times since joining the Quakes on June 4 and three times since July 8. (Photo credit – Steve Saenz)

Like many young hitters often do – at least the good ones – Rios went back to the basics that got him drafted in the first place once his surgically-repaired shoulder finally healed. As a result, his timing at the plate has improved significantly since his arrival at Rancho Cucamonga under the skillful eye of former Dodger and current Quakes hitting coach Jay Gibbons.

“My timing’s just been really good. I was trying a lot of different things at the beginning of the season and some last year. We tried to work on a few things and I just kind of went back to what I was doing in college and what I’ve always done and it’s worked tremendously,” Rios said. “My timing’s been great, I’ve been seeing the ball well and I’ve been able to put good swings on the ball and a lot of home runs. It’s been a lot of fun.”

Rios said that his favorite defensive positions used to be the middle infield, which he played exclusively in Little League and in high school. But all of that changed once he got to college.

“Growing up I’ve always played middle infield but then I got too big for it, so then I went to the corner (third base),” said Rios. “And then I had surgery last year so I was at first [base] my junior year at college because I couldn’t really throw the ball because of my surgery. Now that my arm is back to normal and being able to play third again it’s obviously a blessing. I’m so glad my arm is back healthy and I’m playing the position I love.”

Although it was a question that I already knew the answer to from having asked it to every minor leaguer I’ve ever had the pleasure of interviewing, I asked Rios anyway – “Has anyone mentioned anything to you about a possible promotion in the near future?” – to which Rios gave the same answer I’ve heard dozens of times … and the right answer.

“I don’t know. I’m just playing day-by-day and just taking care of business,” Rios said. “And if I get the call up, good; and if I don’t, I’ll keep doing what I’m doing here.”

But for some reason, some reason that I absolutely cannot explain, I couldn’t just leave it at that. As I switched off my digital recorder and began to walk away, I stopped and turned back to face Rios and said – “For some reason, I don’t think you’ll be finishing the season here in Rancho Cucamonga.”

“We’ll see,” Rios replied, with a smile.